Staked Stool – Top and Battens

2015.09.26

I made the top from a scrap of 1x12 yellow pine left over from one of the boarded chest projects.  For the battens, I chose a piece out of the “probably-cherry” I’ve had for a few years.  As my second-guessing in chalk indicates, the grain reverses in the middle of this piece, which is the main problem I’ve always had with the material; it changes suddenly, frequently, and contemptuously.  However, after sawing it in half, each batten blank behaved well for the most part.

Top for staked stool
Working on blank for battens for staked stool

2015.10.25

I made a 16° bevel guide to saw the beveled sides of the sliding dovetails.  Then I removed most of the waste with a chisel and mallet, and leveled the bottom with the router plane.

Sawing sliding dovetail with backsaw and guide
Leveling sliding dovetail with router plane

2015.11.08

I planed 16° bevels on the sides of the battens to match, and knocked them in with a mallet.

Sliding dovetail batten for staked stool
One batten in place on staked stool top